Agenda and minutes

To consider apologies and reasons for absence.

Committee Members who are unable to attend the meeting should notify the Democratic Services Officer (nicky.cayley@witney-tc.gov.uk) prior to the meeting, stating the reason for absence.

Standing Order 30(a)(v) permits the appointment of substitute Councillors to a Committee whose role is  ...  view the full agenda text for item H155

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are reminded to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in any of the items under consideration at this meeting in accordance with the Town Council’s code of conduct.

There were no declarations of interest in matters to be discussed at the meeting.

To elect a Vice Chair for the municpal year.

RESOLVED:          that Cllr Gwatkin be elected Vice Chair for the municipal year.

a)                       To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Halls and Green Spaces

         Committee held on 9 March 2020;

b)                Matters arising from the minutes not covered elsewhere on the agenda (Questions on      the progress on any item)

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the Halls & Green Spaces Committee meeting held on 9 March 2020 be agreed and signed by the Chair as a correct record, alongside the Chair of the Sport & Play Committee as the work for the municipal year had been split over two new Committees accordingly.  ...  view the full minutes text for item H158

The meeting will adjourn for this item

Members of the public may speak for a maximum of five minutes each during the period of public participation, in line with Standing Order 42.  Matters raised shall relate to the following items on the agenda.

There were no members of the public present for this item.

To consider the revised Terms of Reference for the Committee as attached, and to also consider the Committee’s vision and objectives for the remainder of the municipal year, taking into consideration projects already underway, and the day to day management of the Council facilities under its remit – balancing financial  ...  view the full agenda text for item H160

Members received and considered draft terms of reference for the Committee. A  member asked if Windrush Place Allotments could be included.

RESOLVED: that the terms of reference as presented be accepted with the addition of Windrush Place allotments.

Members received and considered the report of the Operations and Estates Officer.  He advised that there was no evidence of bats in the cedar of Lebanon tree according to the survey and the tree surgeon was now resurveying the tree with a view to it being removed in the near  ...  view the full minutes text for item H161

To receive and consider the report of the Compliance & Environment Officer concerning renewable energy. This report was originally scheduled for the cancelled Climate & Biodiversity Sub-Committee meeting on 18^th March 2020, since disbanded.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Compliance and Environment Officer.  A member commended the report and the fact that it looked into the most modern ways of mitigating the Council’s carbon footprint.

Another member wondered whether it would be worth commissioning for example the Energy Saving Trust  ...  view the full minutes text for item H162

The Operations and Estates Officer reported that he had not been able to complete Planning applications for oversized polytunnels as he had been shielding.  He would be able to go out soon.  The Allotment Association had now come back with recommendations for siting some composting tumblers and daleks and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item H163

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operations and Estates Officer.  The Council had been expecting high numbers of burials due to the pandemic and although numbers had spiked initially, they had dropped to a normal level again.  The Environment Agency permitted 50 burials per year and there  ...  view the full minutes text for item H164

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operations and Estates Officer. As the subject had been discussed earlier, there was no further debate.

RESOLVED: that the report be noted.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Office Manager. The report was for information and an update on how much income the public halls had lost due to lockdown.  A member asked if the drop in income would affect the budget for the Corn Exchange upgrade.  The Office  ...  view the full minutes text for item H166